Paste tube



NOV. 1, 1938. w c. DVORAK 2,134,910

PASTE TUBE Filed March 7, 1.953 2 Sheets-Sheet l Inventor Aiiorneq'sNov. 1, 1938. w. c. DVORAK PASTE TUBE Filed March '7, 1933 2Sheets-Sheet 2 I Inventor Wencz'l C'Jvorwk Aiiorneys Patented Nov. 1,1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Application March 7,

4 Claims.

This invention relates to flexible paste tubes of the type usuallyemployed for toothpaste, shaving cream, salves, and the like, and anobject of the invention is to provide a paste tube having improvedclosure means therefor.

In accordance with the present invention the paste tube is provided witha valve for closing the neck thereof and means operable in response topressure applied at a predetermined point on the tube for moving thevalve to an unseated position to permit the contents of the tube toexude therefrom.

The invention together with its objects and advantages will be bestunderstood from a study of the following description taken in connectionwith the accompanying drawings wherein Figure l is a plan view of thetube embodying the features of the present invention,

Figure 2 is a side elevational view thereof,

Figure 3 is an enlarged detail sectional view taken substantially on theline 33 of Figure 2,

Figure 4 is a view somewhat similar to Figure 3, but showing the valvein closed position, the valve being shown in open position in Figure 3,

Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary detail sectional view illustratingcertain details hereinafter more fully referred to,

Figure 6 is a perspective view of the valve core and stem, and

Figure 7 is a detail sectional view taken substantially on the line 'l'lof Figure 2.

Referring to the drawings by reference numerals it will be seen that theimproved flexible paste tube comprises the flexible tubular body 5sealed at one end in the usual manner as at 6 and provided at theopposite end thereof with a shoulder portion 1 that is substantiallyrectangular in cross section as shown in Figure 7 and tapers to anintegral neck 8.

The neck 8 is provided at the discharge end thereof with an internalconical valve seat 9 against which is adapted to normally seat thesubstantially conical valve core I provided on one end of a stem ll.

Anchored within the shoulder 1 adjacent the inner end of the shoulder isone end of a flat spring [2 to which is welded or otherwise secured asat E3 the inner end of the stem II.

At the side thereof opposite to the anchored end 14 of the spring l2 theshoulder l is formed to provide a recess I which accommodates theangular free end [6 of the aforementioned spring l2,

The portion of the tube 5 forming the outer wall of the recess I5 isprovided at point I! in a 1938, Serial No. 194,458

manner forming a finger seat whereby at the recess !5 the wall of thetube may be pressed inwardly for thepurpose of bringing pressure againstthe end N5 of the spring to flex the spring inwardly to a positionsuggested in Figure 3 whereby to move the valve member ID inwardly offof its seat 9 and thereby permit the contents of the tube, in responseto external pressure on the tube, to exude therefrom.

At the inner end thereof the shoulder 1 is provided with a cross bracel8 that at the end thereof forming the inner end wall of the recess 45terminates short from the periphery of the tube 5 so as to permit thetube to shift longitudinally slightly relative to the shoulder 'l as isnecessary incidental to the compressing of the tube at the point I!thereon.

Also so as not to interfere with the flexing inwardly of the spring 12brace I8 is provided with an elongated slot l9.

It will thus be seen that normally under action of spring [2 valvemember ID seats within the seat 9 providing an efficient closure for thetube serving to exclude dirt from the tube.

When it is desired to discharge some of the contents of the tubetherefrom pressure with the thumb, preferably, engaging the wall in theregion of recess I5 is applied at the point I! to the wall of the tubeand this pressure is transmitted to the end I6 of the spring l2 causingthe latter to flex inwardly to the position shown in Figure 3. Thisobviously results in the valve l0 being drawn inwardly out of engagementwith its seat 9 so that as external pressure is applied to the tubeeither by rolling the tube upon itself as is sometimes done, orotherwise, some of the contents of the tube will be forced to exudetherefrom through the neck 8.

Upon release of pressure at the point I! spring will spring back to itsnormal position urging the valve member ID into engagement with its seat9 for substantially sealing the tube, the parts when the tube is sealedbeing as shown in Figure 4.

It is thought that a clear understanding of the construction, utilityand advantages of a flexible paste tube embodying the features of thepresent invention will be had without a more detailed descriptionthereof.

Having thus described the invention what is cla med as new is:

1. In a flexible paste tube, an integral neck provided internallythereof with a valve seat, a a spring member anchored at one end withinsaid tube and extending transversely of the tube, a

valve stem secured at one end thereof to the spring intermediate theends of the spring, a valve disk on the free end of said stem andnormally urged by said spring into seating engagement with said valveseat, said spring adapted to bow longitudinally incidental to pressurebeing applied to the wall of the tube in a manner to flex a portion ofsaid wall inwardly into engagement with the free end of the spring, tothereby draw said valve disk inwardly of the tube out of engagement withsaid valve seat.

2. In a flexible paste tube, an integral neck provided internallythereof with a valve seat, a spring member anchored at one end withinsaid tube and extending transversely of the tube, a valve stem securedat one end thereof to the spring intermediate the ends of the spring, avalve disk on the free end of said stem and normally urged by saidspring into seating engagement with said valve seat, said spring adaptedto bow longitudinally incidental to pressure being applied to the wallof the tube in a manner to flex a portion of said well inwardly intoengagement with the free end of the spring, to thereby draw said valvedisk inwardly of the tube out of engagement with said valve seat, and abrace extending transversely of said tube interiorly thereof, said braceat one end thereof and the wall of said tube being mutually separated soas not to interfere with the inward flexing of the tube wall when thelatter is so flexed inwardly for flexing said spring, said spring beingdisposed intermediate said brace and the neckequipped end of the tube. v

3. In a flexible paste tube of the character described, an integralneck, a transverse spring member mounted internally of the tube andadapted to be flexed longitudinally incidental to the application ofpressure laterally to the tube at a point substantially in alinementwith said spring member, a valve stem secured at one end thereof to saidspring intermediate the ends of the latter, and a closure member forsaid neck on the free end of said stems, and movable inwardly of theneck to an open position incidental to the aforementioned longitudinalflexing of said transverse spring member.

4. In a flexible paste tube of the character described, an integralneck, a transverse spring member mounted internally of the tube andadapted to be flexed longitudinally incidental to the application ofpressure to the tube, a valve stem secured at one end thereof to saidspring intermediate the ends of the latter, and a closure member forsaid neck on the free end of said stem, said tube at one side thereofbeing provided with an internal pocket, and said spring having the freeend thereof extending into said pocket and provided with a laterallongitudinally curved projection to facilitate contact of the wall ofthe tube with the spring for flexing the latter incidental to pressurebeing applied to the wall of the tube in the region of said pocket.

WENCIL C. DVORAK.

